Rotator Cuff Tear in Flint Hill, MO. A rotator cuff tear not only keep you from the things you love, but can make day-to-day life painful. Our Flint Hill, MO team of physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy caters each treatment plan specifically to each client, their injury, and their desired activity level. Fill out our online form or schedule an appointment today to get started with healing your rotator cuff injury.
Our locally owned and operated network of physical therapy clinics throughout Flint Hill, MO and Missouri is run by physical and occupational therapists who have dedicated their lives to assisting individuals like you in the Flint Hill, MO area achieve the mobility and physical well-being you desire. Our comprehensive clinical expertise, proven treatment plans, and background as movement experts allow us to successfully shepherd you in heal your rotator cuff tear. Get in touch with a physical therapist at Axes Physical Therapy today. Contact us now or find out more about the location most convenient for you.
A rotator cuff tear can be the result of trauma or overuse over time. Over two million people every year in the United States must schedule a visit with a doctor or physical therapist due to rotator cuff tears. If a rotator cuff tear is keeping you from participating in your favorite sport, or just making daily tasks painful, schedule an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. We are the leading physical therapy team in Flint Hill, MO, and our licensed physical therapists will design a personalized, evidence-based therapy treatment plan to guide you in your recovery from your rotator cuff tear.
The Rotator Cuff | Axes Physical Therapy Flint Hill, MO
The rotator cuff is a set of 4 tendons and muscles that maintains the stability and function between your humerus (upper arm bone) and shoulder. Besides holding your shoulder in place, the rotator cuff lets you raise your arm and elevate it over your head. For any physical activity requiring usage of your arm, the rotator cuff musculature function alongside other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to lift or move the upper extremity. It’s the synergy between the rotator cuff and the larger, stronger muscles, as well as the bone anatomy of the shoulder, that empowers the great scope of movement in the shoulder. The rotator cuff is made up of:
- The supraspinatus is a proportionately small muscle that stabilizes the head of your humerus and permits you to raise your arm.
- The infraspinatus is a thick triangular muscle on the back of the shoulder which helps with rotation and extension of the shoulder.
- The teres minor is a narrow muscle that works together with the infraspinatus to rotate your arm outward and hold the arm in place during rotation.
- The subscapularis is a triangle-shaped muscle that is the biggest of the rotator cuff muscles. It permits you to rotate your shoulder inward, as well as straighten and move your arm downward.
Moving your arm or shoulder with an injured rotator cuff is painful if not impossible. A healthy rotator cuff requires equal strength and control in order to have full range of motion. If you have sustained a rotator cuff tear or any other injury, come see the Flint Hill, MO occupational and physical therapists at Axes for a free injury screening, so we can design an evidence-based plan to return you to to the activities you love.
Common Rotator Cuff Injuries
Rotator cuff injuries are either caused by sudden injuries or gradual degeneration. Trauma can take place when you lift a heavy object or overstretch your arm. Degeneration occurs because of overuse or standard weakening of the muscles and tendons as you get older. Whatever kind of pain or injury you are experiencing in your shoulder, the Flint Hill, MO rotator cuff experts at Axes physical are here to lead you as you heal.
Rotator cuff injuries fall into 1 of the 3 categories below:
- Rotator cuff tears are caused because of trauma or can be more chronic in nature. A complete, or full-thickness, rotator cuff tear entirely separates the tendon from the bone. Usually, a rotator cuff tear is a partial tear, which hurts the tendon but does not wholly separate it from the bone. They can the result of trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repeating every day movements over time like repeatedly lifting heavy objects. They start with fraying and in time tear. Often, people with partial tears do not know they have them. A small injury can frequently reveal a chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tear.
- Rotator cuff tendinopathy (tendinitis or tendinosis), is inflammation, irritation or weakening of one of the tendons attaching muscle to the bone. Patients typically feel pain in the area just outside the joint. Teninopathy often happens to people who frequently lift their arms overhead, whether in sports or as part of their job. The irritation is often the result of weakness or incorrect posture.
- Impingement is caused by a tendon rubbing on a shoulder blade. Typically occurring with overhead activities. Impingement syndrome can be a prelude to chronic rotator cuff irritation and partial tearing.
All three conditions can be treated successfully with conservative treatment like physical therapy. While some complete and partial tears of the rotator cuff may need surgery, a course of individualized physical therapy with a highly-knowledgeable physical therapist can assuage symptoms and improve function remarkably. Our Flint Hill, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will develop a personalized plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to swimming, painting your walls, or performing basic everyday tasks like pouring a cup of coffee with comfort and ease.
Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Flint Hill, MO
Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors
A rotator cuff tear can be categorized as one of the following:
- Acute Tears — This sort of rotator cuff tear takes place when you experience a blunt force injury. Maybe you attempted to lift something you shoulder could not support. Acute tears can also accompany other injuries to the shoulder, such as a broken collarbone or dislocated shoulder.
- Degenerative Tears — These are also known as chronic rotator cuff tears. Some common risk factors are:
- Repetitive Stress — Repeating the same shoulder movements over time can lead to tendons fraying and tearing. These are common in sports like swimming and baseball, or jobs that require repeated overhead lifting.
- Lack of Blood Flow — Proper blood flow ensures that minor injuries heal properly. When blood flow is restricted, irritation can gradually turn into a tear. The rotator cuff is infamous for its poor blood supply.
- Bone Spurs — The acromion, the bony tip on the outer edge of your shoulder blade, is prone to overgrowth . After a while, the bone can rub against a tendon, resulting in rotator cuff impingement, causing it to fray and tear.
Most rotator cuff tears happen to people over the age of 40 as a result of the wear and tear our bodies experience as we become older. Younger people with rotator cuff injuries frequently acquire them through acute trauma. Flint Hill, MO residents who work in certain occupations, play certain sports, or repeatedly lift heavy things or consistently move their arms overhead are also at higher risk.
Rotator Cuff Tear Symptoms
You may not always exhibit symptoms of a rotator cuff tear, particularly if it develops slowly over time. Acute tears generally cause instantaneous pain, but sometimes the symptoms are more difficult to notice. There are some common rotator cuff tear symptoms to look out for:
- Difficulty elevating your arm
- Pain or soreness when carrying out specific shoulder movements
- Pain at night or when resting, particularly if you’re lying on the injured shoulder
- Weakness in your shoulder
- Hearing or feeling clicking, grating, or popping with specific arm motions
- Inability to lift things you can usually lift
If you have any of these symptoms, it’s essential that you call a medical professional such as the Flint Hill, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy. We will work with your physician to come up with a game plan that will safely and successfully get you back to the activities you love. Visiting any of our locations for a free injury screening is an easy, cost-effective method to have your shoulder analyzed. Early evaluation and treatment can help prevent a frozen shoulder – which is painful and can take up to three years to totally recover from – or arthritis, which will have to be managed for the rest of your life. We have the expertise and skill to get you safely back to what you do and love best, whether it’s picking up your grandkids over your head or striking out the side.
Treatments for a Rotator Cuff Tear
If you have been diagnosed with a rotator cuff tear, you may be uncertain as to what the best means of treatment is in Flint Hill, MO. Most of the time, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment practices such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be enough to help improve the symptoms, let your rotator cuff heal properly by itself, and eventually get you back to the activities you love. If the pain is severely debilitating, a physician make recommend anti-inflammatory medicine or injections. Fortunately, surgery is only recommended in rotator cuff tears where the tendon is completely torn or if the tear refuses to heal with more conservative care. The professional physical therapists at Axes Physical Therapy know how to evaluate your condition and determine the best treatment method for you. We will work with you to implement an evidence-based, personalized plan to get you back to the activities you love, free from the pain and limitations of a rotator cuff tear.
We treat a wide variety of conditions and complaints and have a team of specialists ready to help you. Some of our other services are:
- Back Pain Treatment
- Neck Pain Treatment
- Physical Therapy Clinic
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment
- Sciatica Treatment
- Sports Medicine
- Hand Pain Physical Therapy
- Foot & Ankle Pain Treatment
- Hip Pain Treatment
- Plantar Fasciitis Treatment
Receive Treatment for Your Rotator Cuff Tear Today | Axes Physical Therapy Flint Hill, MO
Whether your rotator cuff tear happened because of an injury or of degeneration over time, you won’t be able to fully enjoy your life as you should until you get treatment from expert and compassionate physical and occupational therapists who can safely and successfully shepherd you in your recovery. No two rotator cuff tears are exactly the same, and at Axes Physical Therapy we design a customized plan for you based on evidence and your individual needs. As your physical therapist, we work hard to help you restore your movement health and help you recover from your rotator cuff tear, and we look forward to seeing you once again able to high-five your clinical team on your way out. Contact us today by selecting the location nearest you or get a free injury screening to take the first step in getting back to the activities you love.
